Northern Brewer Grain is not looking so good

[bleme]

My first brew ever was a Cream Ale from NB. Since it was my first time looking at "crushed grains" I had no idea what to expect but all the grains seemed to be broken in half, so I brewed it. My second batch I picked up some grain from a distant (75 min drive) LHBS and was bummed to get home and see they were still whole. Fortunately a fellow brewer I met on here offered to mill them for me. I was quite surprised to see what properly milled grain looks like.

BTW, the Cream Ale still turned out great beer!

 

[chris_farley]

I just got my order from Northern Brewer. Here is a picture of a handful of my rye malt and white wheat malt. Labeled right on the bags "crushed". It's no wonder why the mash efficiency people are reporting is so low.

That grain crush is pretty bogus, Beerfly. We use Microbrew Series Barley Crushers, and although I thought people were well-trained, we clearly have some work to do. We're going to have a meeting about this, and we'll use your pics as a perfect example.

We've trained our staff, and we have examples of good crush/bad crush at the mill station, but we've never really tried to engineer quality into the process. I've got some ideas on how we can do this, though. We know better. We're Northern Brewer, not amazon.com, after all!

It sounds like our CS department replaced your grain. No, that's not as good as getting it right the first time.

Thanks for lighting a fire!

Chris Farley, President/CEO

 

[passedpawn]

That grain crush is pretty bogus, Beerfly. We use Microbrew Series Barley Crushers, and although I thought people were well-trained, we clearly have some work to do. We're going to have a meeting about this, and we'll use your pics as a perfect example.

We've trained our staff, and we have examples of good crush/bad crush at the mill station, but we've never really tried to engineer quality into the process. I've got some ideas on how we can do this, though. We know better. We're Northern Brewer, not amazon.com, after all!

It sounds like our CS department replaced your grain. No, that's not as good as getting it right the first time.

Thanks for lighting a fire!

Chris Farley, President/CEO

Woot!

 

[BrewLou]

And boom goes the dynamite!

Glad to see the CEO getting in on this.

 

[bullinachinashop]

Looks like HBT is throwing its weight around!
I'm glad to see that it matters to someone!

 

[FlyDoctor]

Love NB!! Its also a LHBS!!

 

[passedpawn]

I've bought from them and they are as good as my regular place (Brewmaster's Warehouse). I don't buy crushed grain.

What I absolutely love from them is their catalog (wow) and those freaking funny commercials on the Jamil show / Brewstrong. Some of the funniest stuff.

Radio ads are at this link, but the funniest one isn't there (the post-apocalypse commercial - so frigging funny). http://www.northernbrewer.com/learn/resources/

 

[BrewKnurd]

Radio ads are at this link, but the funniest one isn't there (the post-apocalypse commercial - so frigging funny). http://www.northernbrewer.com/learn/resources/

I'd reckon you'd better stick to arrowroot tea and a desperate nomadic existence like the rest of us!

 

[passedpawn]

I'd reckon you'd better stick to arrowroot tea and a desperate nomadic existence like the rest of us!

Hah!

"I'm a homebrewer - I know how to make alcohol."

[gasps]

"He is the chosen one. The prophecies say he's gonna get us wasted."

 

[two_one_seven]

That grain crush is pretty bogus, Beerfly. We use Microbrew Series Barley Crushers, and although I thought people were well-trained, we clearly have some work to do. We're going to have a meeting about this, and we'll use your pics as a perfect example.

We've trained our staff, and we have examples of good crush/bad crush at the mill station, but we've never really tried to engineer quality into the process. I've got some ideas on how we can do this, though. We know better. We're Northern Brewer, not amazon.com, after all!

It sounds like our CS department replaced your grain. No, that's not as good as getting it right the first time.

Thanks for lighting a fire!

Chris Farley, President/CEO

And thats what were talking about. Thank you Mr. Farley.

 

[Nugent]

Wow! Championship move, NB.

 

[scottvin]

And boom goes the dynamite!

and of course if nobody has seen this, please do.. it's pure gold

 

[passedpawn]

and of course if nobody has seen this, please do.. it pure gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45DRy7M1no

Someone give that poor fool a homebrew. Jeepers.

 

[Beerfly]

Northern Brewer's customer service is definitely what all companies should strive for. Thanks for sending the new grains and complimentary glass, I look forward to brewing your Denny's Wry Smile Rye.

 

[zachattack]

My question is if Chris Farley is still alive, why is he running a homebrew supply instead of making more movies with David Spade?

 

[Brewskii]

He's in a van.... Down by the river!

 

[BeerguyNC61]

WOW!! The top dawg replying to a customer thats impressive!! Wonder when he was informed about this? I'd hate to be the person that sent out that crush!

 

[udt89]

This thread reminds me when I posted in an Apple forum what makes an Ipad worth $800 when there are other tables for half that and double the features.

 

[passedpawn]

This thread reminds me when I posted in an Apple forum what makes an Ipad worth $800 when there are other tables for half that and double the features.

... and, what, Steve Jobs responded?

 

[goosegrease]

Way to step to the plate and park one in the cheap seats! What a concept, owning up to a mistake, and outlining solutions to prevent it's reoccurence. My hat is off sir.
Jim

 

[pksmitty]

Thumbs up to NB and Chris Farley! Did anybody else notice that was his first post, and he joined the forum just to acknowledge the mistake and say how they would fix it? Class act all the way!

 

[two_one_seven]

... and, what, Steve Jobs responded?

Yes he probably did. He was know for that. Sometimes he would even answer a complaint email himself.

Cool concept........wish more business owners and CEO would buy into it.

 

[duckmanco]

Anyone feel like commenting on my crush from NB. This is the Surly Furious Pro Series grain bill ordered CRUSHED a few days ago and delivered 10 min ago. This is my first AG kit ordered ever. I normally have my local crush my grains and I usually hit 75ish when batch sparging, but this looks suspect.

 

[baptistbrewer]

Those pics are not super clear but I would say that is either a bad crush or not crushed.

 

[passedpawn]

Not crushed. Looks like you'll be visiting your LHBS after all.

 

[duckmanco]

I thought as much too, but figured I'd ask those with more knowledge than I. Shot an email to NB. I have zero doubt that they'll take care of it with no issue.

 

[two_one_seven]

Hmmmm looks uncrushed........... This thread has actually convinced me to by my own mill. Makes my Rebel mill prettier and prettier each day.

Let them know and they will fix it. Sucks that they didn't get it right though.

 

[duckmanco]

Already got a reply back from NB offering to send me a replacement grain bill. Great company that I'll continue to purchase from. I certainly hope they get this issue completely worked out.

 

[two_one_seven]

What did it say on the bag?

 

[Rev2010]

Yeah that is definitely uncrushed. But, NB is a great company I love ordering from. That said, all AG brewers really do need their own grain mill. Either way, even if 80% of your orders had a perfect crush you'd still have 20% off, and many grains are different sizes so it's best to do the milling yourself, if even just for a consistent efficiency.


Rev.